Roundup: The demise of Energy East

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The news that TransCanada decided to cancel their plans for the Energy East pipeline yesterday created a predictable firestorm of reaction, from the gloating of Montreal mayor Denis Coderre, outgoing Saskatchewan premier getting in his last kicks, to the histrionics of the Conservative caucus. The government’s line is market conditions have changed since the project was first proposed – and they’re entirely correct. But that doesn’t stop the rhetoric, either from TransCanada itself, or from the Conservatives, who are peddling some incredulous, mind-boggling lines to vilify the government.

https://twitter.com/robert_hiltz/status/916098405700718592

But seriously, there are plenty of charts and graphs that show how the market conditions have changed beyond just the world price of oil (which is a bit part of it), but that the capacity with the other approved pipelines changes the equation for the hole that Energy East would have filled, and it’s no longer clear that it was a clear-cut decision after all.

Also, it should be mentioned that as much as TransCanada is blaming government regulation, they did balls this up on their own end more than once, and do need to take some of the blame along the way. But why take that blame when you can shake your fist at the government?

https://twitter.com/robert_hiltz/status/915978635307212800

https://twitter.com/robert_hiltz/status/915980506054803456

And this having been said, there is a proud Alberta tradition that is underlying all of this. Because some zombies refuse to die.

Meanwhile, Paul Wells looks at the current record of the government in trying to attract investment, and wonders if we really are a place that will get the big things built, or if it will all collapse in tears and recriminations, driving investors away.

Good reads:

  • Here’s the basis of the latest chapter of the Morneau-Shepell conspiracy theory, and its Barbados subsidiary. It’s a giant stretch, but who’s counting?
  • SIRC released their annual review of CSIS, but it’s a lot of generalities that makes it difficult to parse.
  • The federal government has announced it will pay out up to $800 million to Indigenous victims of the “Sixties Scoop.”
  • National Defence and Veterans Affairs are going to start tracking veterans suicides in a more concerted manner to know where to put resources.
  • A report from the PBO says that federal debt is on track to be eliminated by 2060, but it’s a much different picture for provinces, some of whose debt is set to grow.
  • The government will unveil its clean fuel standard this fall, which some see as a second carbon tax, but may be more effective at reducing emissions.
  • It looks like impaired canoeing will remain an offence after all, thanks to pushback from advocates, but should raise questions about the use of criminal powers.
  • A new report looks at how ill-prepared the government was to implement the Phoenix pay system, and that it was doomed from the start.
  • Liberal MP Wayne Long was relieved of committee duty as his punishment for voting for the Conservative Supply Day motion. How is that punishment? He has less to do.
  • Kevin Carmichael talks about the problems of politicians continuing to talk down an economy that is doing really very well by most any measure.
  • Supriya Dwivedi talks about Jagmeet Singh’s need to brush up on his basic comms skills after he floundered during that interview with Terry Milewski.
  • Arshy Mann tries to provide some more context around Milewski’s questions and the issues of Sikh politics, and where Singh fits into them.
  • John Geddes takes a deep dive into the tax proposals, and suspects that it’s really the money on the line for some CCPC owners that is why the response is so vigorous.

Odds and ends:

Here’s a look at how the Parliament of Canada’s Black Rod got a much-needed restoration at Windsor Castle this summer.

Programming note: Taking the full long weekend off. See you Tuesday!